Police launch car crime crackdown

Jul 1 2009 By Rupert Basham, Surrey Herald

A SIX-WEEK campaign to combat car crime has been launched by police in Elmbridge.

Borough inspector Richard Haycock is unhappy that car crime is on the increase and on Wednesday launched extra daily patrols to try to reduce the number of offences.

"This year we have been looking at an increase in these offences and that is not a situation we want,"he told the Informer.

Almost 200 vehicles were targeted by thieves from April to June, up from 176 in the previous three months.

Offences have included thefts of satellite navigation systems, laptops as well as vehicles.

Insp Haycock added: "We know that a lot of people have been travelling into the borough to carry out vehicle crime and this is something that puts everyone in Elmbridge at risk.

"We are now combatting this by having patrols every day for six weeks in known hotspots."

Initially, these locations will include roads in Cobham and Esher.

Elmbridge borough policing teams, alongside North Surrey targeted patrol teams and support from CID officers,

will make additional stop checks and use automatic number plate recognition to catch known thieves from outside the area.

"This issue is the top policing priority for Elmbridge borough policing teams," Insp Haycock added. "We are giving

security information and advice to residents and targeting individuals believed to be involved in vehicle crime."

Police recommend residents to remove valuables from their cars to deter opportunist thieves thefts and to report anyone they see acting suspiciously.

Insp Haycock said: "We need the people of Elmbridge to help be our eyes." [25cf] Report information about vehicle crime by calling Surrey police on 0845 125 222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. ..SUPL: